Disposable urinal

ABSTRACT

A disposable urinal comprising a flexible generally flat sealed holding bag of urine insoluble thermoplastic material in a rectangular shape and a funnel member, the latter having a mouth portion, an elongated stem portion and a bulbous terminal portion at the end of the stem. The capacity of the bag is at least substantially in excess of twice that of an average adult bladder capacity and is preferably substantially in excess of the average adult 24-hour discharge. The diameter of the bulbous portion is such that urine will always reside beneath a central discharge opening therein when the bag is disposed in a flat attitude. When the bag is suspended, the bulbous end portion is located at an intermediate area such that urine level always remains beneath the discharge opening preventing re-entry.

United States Patent [191 Atkins July 3, 1973 DISPOSABLE URINAL [76] Inventor: Samuel M. Atkins, 81 Eastridge 'fg g qf g i' Drive, Waterbury, Conn. tmmey e0 ore mg [22] Filed: Feb; 10, 1972 57 T T [21 Appl. No 225,168 A disposable urinal comprising a flexible'generally flat sealed holding bag of urine insoluble thermoplastic material in a rectangular shape and a funnel member, the 2 2 3 128/295 latter having a mouth portion, an elongated stem pori i h /0 4 Amg 9 tion and a bulbous terminal portion at the end of the l 1 0 4/ stem. The capacity of the bag is at least substantially in 1 8/ 275 excess of twice that of an average adult bladder capacity and is preferably substantially in excess of the aver- [561 References c'ted age adult 24-hour discharge. Th diameter of the bul- UNITED STATES PATENTS bous portion is such that urine will always reside be- 3,259,920 7/1966 Voller 4/1 10 neath a central discharge opening therein when the bag 3,3l2,22l 4/1967 Overmentm 128/275 is disposed in a flat attitude. When the bag is sus- 3,343,542 Ericson pended the bulbous end portion is located at an interk' l mediate area such that urine level always remains be- OSS v t r. 3,56828 3H9" Beckmun n 4,110 neath the discharge opening preventmgre entry. 3559,65! 2/1971 Moss 4/295 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures DISPOSABLE URINAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Rigid urinals of conventional construction have obvious disadvantages for bed patients who may for example, have the use of one hand only. Flexible urinals of the general type here envisioned have been provided in the past but have not been wholly satisfactory due to complexity of design, difficulties encountered in cost of manufacture, etc.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the disposable use,

- urinal of the present invention with portions thereof broken away for clarity of illustration.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the urinal of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the urinal of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a mouth portion of a funnel member forming a part of the urinal, the said funnel member forming a first alternative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the mouth portion of the funnel member of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a mouth portion of a funnel member forming a second alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view, partially in section, of the mouth portion of the funnel member of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a reduced scale illustration of the disposable urinal suspended in an upright attitude and with a quantity of urine therein representing an average adult bladder capacity.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the urinal of FIG. 8 in an inverted suspended attitude.

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the urinal suspended from one side edge thereof.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the disposable urinal in a flat attitude.

observed that a urinal shown therein comprises a holding bag indicated generally at 10 and a funnel-shaped member indicated generally at 12. The bag 10 may vary in construction within the scope of the invention, but preferably takes a generally rectangular flat configuration. The bag is of a urine insoluble and preferably a transparent thermoplastic material and, in the form shown, comprises two sheets of such plastic material in overlaying relationship with a heat-sealed marginal portion 14. The size of the bag may vary widely but in accordance with the invention, it is at least of a capacity which is substantially in excess oftwice that of an average adult bladder capacity. Preferably, the bag size is substantially in excess of the average adult 24-hour urine discharge, approximately 2 to 3 pints. As shown, the bag 10 is approximately l6 inches long and approximately 12 inches wide and has a capacity well in excess of the 24-hour discharge and in excess of twice that of the average or maximum adult bladder capacity, a

moderately distended adult bladder having approxi mately a I pint capacity.

The funnel-shaped member 12 comprises a mouth portion 16, an intermediate stem portion 18, and a bulbous end portion 20. A passageway 22 extending from the mouth portion 16 to the bulbous portion 20 terminates at a discharge opening 24 which empties into the interior of the bag 10.

The construction of the funnel-shaped member 12 may vary within the scope of the invention but is preferably of a rigid and unitary plastic construction with the serveral portions thereof formed integrally as in a molding operation. The mouth portion 16 of the member 12 preferably has an elongated cylindrical intermediate portion and a gradually curving inner end portion at 26, as contrasted with the usual cone-shaped funnel, and is believed to be well suited to either male or female use. The portion 16 is also substantially heavier than the remainder of the member 12. Alternatively, the bulbous end portion may be buoyant. A small flange or collar 28 on the stem portion facilitates heat sealing of the plastic bag to the funnel-shaped member for leak-proof construction and, the lower or bulbous end portion 20 of the member is disposed at a generally central area of the bag for a purpose to be described more fully hereinbelow. The size of the bulbous-shaped end portion 20 is somewhat critical and, in the FIG. 1 through 3 embodiment of the invention, the diameter of said portion is approximately 3 inches. The length and diameter of the mouth portion 16 of the funnelshaped member 12 are each approximately 3% inches in the FIG. 1 through 3 embodiment. The stem length is approximately 6 inches.

In use, the disposable urinal of the present invention may be readily manipulated even by a patient suffering a degree of infirmity and perhaps having the use of one hand only. When the urine has been introduced to the bag as in FIGS. 8 et sequa, the bag may of course be positioned in a variety of attitudes. In FIG. 8, the bag is shown suspended in a vertical and upright attitude and it will be observed that the level of urine is substantially beneath the bulbous end portion 20 whereby to prevent re-entry or reverse flow and consequent leakage of the urine. The level of urine illustrated in FIG. 8 may be taken as an average 24-hour discharge. In FIG. 9, a similar quantity of urine in the bag falls beneath the bulbous portion 20 with the bag 'held in an inverted attitude. As will be apparent, the capacity of the holding bag as set forth above is sufficient to provide for a level of urine beneath the bulbous end portion 20 and the associated discharge opening 24 whereby to preclude reentry and leakage. In FIG. 10, the bag is suspended in a sideways attitude and the urine level will be observed beneath the central opening 24 in the bulbous end portion 20, the bulbous portion tilting upwardly due to the excess weight of the funnel member 16. In FIG. I 1, the bag is illustrated in a flat attitude and at rest and it will be observed that the level of urine therein is well beneath the center of the bulbous end portion 20. Thus, re-entry of the urine through the discharge opening 24 and resulting leakage is avoided. The relationship here provided is a result of bag capacity as well as the aforementioned diameter of the bulbous end portion 20. That is, the diameter of the end portion 20 is sufficient to provide for elevation of the discharge opening 24 above the level of urine in a bag of the stated capacity.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that a relatively simple design has been provided for manufacture at economic advantage and yet ease and convenience of use is achieved and leakage during or subsequent to use is precluded.

In the first alternative embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, a mouth portion 16a is provided for a funnel-shaped member which may otherwise be identical with the member 12 described above. The mouth portion 16a is particularly well suited to female use and includes a flange 30 which projects radially outwardly adjacent the outer end portion of the mouth portion 16a and which has an enlarged portion 32 which projects substantially beyond the remainder of the flange. The enlarged portion 32 has a gradual arcuate configuration downwardly toward the inner end of the mouth portion 16a. The configuration described and illustrated conforms to the female anatomy for comfort in use.

In FIGS. 6 and 7, a mouth portion 16b is similar to the aforesaid mouth portion but comprises a second alternative embodiment of the invention. The mouth portion 16b may form a part of a funnel-shaped member otherwise identical with the member 12. A sponge-like element 34 is provided adjacent the outer end portion of the mouth portion 16b of the funnel member and takes the form of a flange extending outwardly adjacent the mouth. Here again, the construction is believed particularly well suited to the female anatomy.

I claim:

1. A disposable urinal for use particularly with bed patients, said urinal comprising a flexible generally flat sealed holding bag of urine insoluble thermoplastic material and having at least a capacity substantially in excess of twice that of an average adult bladder capacity, and a generally funnel-shaped member having a mouth portion disposed exteriorly of said holding bag and an intermediate hollow stem portion extending into said bag in sealed relationship therewith terminating at a generally central area therein, said member also including a bulbous end portion on said stem having a central opening to discharge into the bag interior, said bulbous end portion having a radial dimension sufficient to elevate said central discharge opening sufficiently to prevent the re-entry of urine therethrough when said bag is disposed in any flat attitude with said average adult bladder capacity therein, and said generally central lo-- cation of said bulbous end portion and said bag capacity providing for a urine level beneath the bulbous end portion when the bag is suspended in any attitude with said average adult bladder capacity therein.

2. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mouth portion of said funnel member has elongated generally cylindrical side wall and a gradually curved inner end wall connected at a central portion with said stem portion.

3. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mouth portion has a generally radial flange at an outer end portion which projects outwardly and which is substantially flat.

4. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 3 wherein said flange has an enlarged portion at one side thereof which projects outwardly beyond the remainder of the flange and which curves gradually toward the inner end portion of the mouth of the funnel member.

5. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mouth portion of said funnel member is provided adjacent its outer end portion with a soft sponge-like member in an annular shape disposed about and projecting radially outwardly from said member.

6. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic holding bag comprises a pair of similar sheets of transparent plastic in overlying relationship with marginal portions heat-sealed together.

7. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic holding bag takes a generally rectangular configuration.

8. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 7 wherein said bag is approximately 12 inches in width, approximately 16 inches in length and wherein said bulbous end portion of said stem is approximately 3 inches in diameter.

9. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mouth portion of said funnel member is approximately 3 k inches in diameter.

10. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 9 wherein said bag capacity is substantially in excess of the average adult 24-hour bladder discharge. 

1. A disposable urinal for use particularly with bed patients, said urinal comprising a flexible generally flat sealed holding bag of urine insoluble thermoplastic material and having at least a capacity substantially in excess of twice that of an average adult bladder capacity, and a generally funnel-shaped member having a mouth portion disposed exteriorly of said holding bag and an intermediate hollow stem portion extending into said bag in sealed relationship therewith terminating at a generally central area therein, said member also including a bulbous end portion on said stem having a central opening to discharge into the bag interior, said bulbous end portion having a radial dimension sufficient to elevate said central discharge opening sufficiently to prevent the re-entry of urine therethrough when said bag is disposed in any flat attitude with said average adult bladder capacity therein, and said generally central location of said bulbous end portion and said bag capacity providing for a urine level beneath the bulbous end portion when the bag is suspended in any attitude with said average adult bladder capacity therein.
 2. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mouth portion of said funnel member has elongated generally cylindrical side wall and a gradually curved inner end wall connected at a central portion with said stem portion.
 3. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 1 wherein said mouth portion has a generally radial flange at an outer end portion which projects outwardly and which is substantially flat.
 4. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 3 wherein said flange has an enlarged portion at one side thereof which projects outwardly beyond the remainder of the flange and which curves gradually toward the inner end portion of the mouth of the funnel member.
 5. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 2 wherein said mouth portion of said funnel member is provided adjacent its outer end portion with a soft sponge-like member in an annular shape disposed about and projecting radially outwardly from said member.
 6. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 2 wherein said thermoplastic holding bag comprises a pair of similar sheets of transparent plastic in overlying relationship with marginal portions heat-sealed together.
 7. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 1 wherein said thermoplastic holding bag takes a generally rectangular configuration.
 8. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 7 wherein said bag is approximately 12 inches in width, approximately 16 inches in length and wherein said bulbous end portion of said stem is approximately 3 inches in diameter.
 9. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 8 wherein said mouth portion of said funnel member is approximately 3 1/2 inches in diameter.
 10. A disposable urinal as set forth in claim 9 wherein said bag capacity is substantially in excess of the average adult 24-hour bladder discharge. 